TAWAU: A 19-year-old who was previously ordered to perform community service for offering sexual services was jailed for six months by the magistrate's court here today after repeating the offence.
Nurul Syahfathin Puteri Sofea pleaded guilty after the charge under Section 372B of the Penal Code was read before magistrate Don Stiwin Malanjum.
According to the charge, she offered sexual services via WhatsApp in a rented room at Flat Sabindo, Jalan Habib Sheikh, Bandar Sabindo, at 9.30pm on Oct 20.
Based on the facts of the case, an undercover police officer contacted her via WhatsApp, after which she offered sexual services for RM150.
Police raided the room and seized two condoms, RM150 in cash and a key.
During proceedings, the magistrate asked the unrepresented accused how long she had been involved in such activities.
She replied that this was her first time on this occasion.
When asked why she had engaged in the activity at a young age, she said she was desperate to pay overdue rent after losing her job and claimed her wages had not been paid.
She said she had previously worked as an assistant at a food stall.
However, prosecuting officer Assistant Superintendent Nur Intan Jamrin told the court that the accused had committed the same offence and was charged at the same court on Sept 4 last year.
The court was told that she had been ordered to perform community service for six months, four hours a day, and placed under a RM1,000 bond without deposit.
Don Stiwin reprimanded the accused for repeating the offence despite being given a second chance.
"I gave you a chance for six months previously, but you still repeated the same offence. At your young age, you were given an opportunity but you still did it," he said.
The court sentenced her to six months' jail from the date of her arrest.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
